College Spotlight: What We Learned From WV Wesleyan's Spring Game

A year ago, West Virginia Wesleyan entered its spring game just hoping to know first year Head Coach George Shehl's system.

During Saturday's Spring game, the team showed it's at a whole different level and gave us 5 reasons to jump on the bandwagon.

Reason No. 5: Defense wins championships and turnovers win games

In 2013, the Bobcats had a rocky defensive season finishing near the bottom of the conference in several categories, but one positive then was a +5 in turnovers.

Saturday, the defense proved hungry for the ball forcing a pair of turnovers, nearly returning both for scores.

"We were all freshman last year on the defensive side of the ball, and we're still mostly freshman," said Shehl. "But they were flying around, and I think they got comfortable and I try telling the defensive coaches that when they're going up against the offence, they're going up against a great offense."

"I'm never satisfied, and that's the mentality of our team," said nose guard Wilson Harvey. "I love it. We're out here and hungry and work hard to get better."

Reason No. 4: Home field Advantage

Wesleyan was for 4-1 a year ago in Buckhannon, a new turf field should only make the team more comfortable there

Reason No. 3: Repetition

Wesleyan returns plenty of talent on both sides of the field, and this spring coach Shehl has been able to spend his time expanding the system rather than just teaching it.

"We pretty much return the entire offense other than one or two guys," Shehl said. "So the offense has a lot of continuity... It's a different program than it was a year ago... Now it's about moving forward, but I'm really impressed by what we've done since the Urbana game."

Reason No. 2: Offense

Saturday the full first team squad scored touchdowns on 2 of it's 3 possessions.

A year ago the Bobcats finished fourth in yards-per-game and in scoring in the Mountain East.

"I feel like we're steps ahead (of last year) ... Guys who are new came in a stepped right into the system, O-line is back. I think we're clicking, coming from the last three games until now, I think we're better," said junior quarterback Jeremy Musselman

Reason No. 1: Aerial Attack

Jeremy Musselman was the top passer in the conference last year and had three of the top 6 receivers in yard-per-game.

Saturday that rapport with receivers continued, especially with Chase Blackwell who missed his junior year with an injury.

Shehl said his QB went back to school in the off-season, and it's paid off.

"He kind of relearned the offense a second time around, which is real good, he got a lot better fundamentally," said Shehl.